Page 14 of The Sunbound Princess
“I’m twenty-six,” the elf said, apparently tired of our bickering.
Relief washed through me. Rumor had it that age tended to make elves lose their moral compass. Death didn’t mean as much to them when they had little reason to fear it. And human lives were short by comparison. Some elves viewed us as insects, our lifespans too brief to care about.
“I’m twenty-eight,” I said. “Dain is thirty.”
Helios pursed his lips. “Congratulations.” He turned to the woman. “Can I talk to you?Alone?”
They moved a distance away and then engaged in a whispered, agitated conversation.
I looked at Dain. “This is an interesting turn of events.”
“Understatement,” he mumbled, observing the pair with narrowed eyes.
“Watch,” the woman said. She turned from Helios and strode away, her cloak flaring behind her. She got about a dozen steps before she stopped. Her shoulders stiffened, and she swung back around.
Dain winced, then rubbed at the center of his chest.
“What is it?” I asked quietly.
Eyes on the woman, he answered in the same tone. “I wish I knew.”
Clearly frustrated, she spun and marched away from us again. Just as quickly, she whirled and hurried back to the sunsprite’s side. “See?” she whispered, darting looks at us. “I can’t resist it.”
I caught Dain’s eye, and we had another silent exchange.
Can we use her?I asked.
He hesitated.
Dain?I pressed.
His chest lifted. Then he gave a slight nod.Maybe. Probably.
Triumph surged through me. I’d told the woman Dain and I were in the business of finding rare things. It wasn’t a lie. The elf was pure magic. Maybe she’d fallen into our hands for a reason. If we played this right, she might be the solution to our most pressing problem.
She crossed the leaves, stopping before Dain and me with a disgruntled-looking Helios at her side.
I spread my hands. “I can’t help but notice you seem, ah, torn about traveling with us.”
Helios huffed. “Because it’s a terrible idea.”
The woman pressed her lips together, and I ignored the way the gesture tightened my groin.
“Take the night to think it over,” I said, risking a wink. “I know I always feel better after a good night’s sleep.”
Helios scowled at me.
I gestured to the sky, where the sun flirted with the horizon. “It’ll be dark soon. As you already know, these woods are full of bad guys.”
The woman snorted. “Like you. You’re both criminals.”
I pressed a hand to my chest. “Dain and I were falsely accused. As you’ve pointed out, we’re in your debt. Let us make it up to you.” When she hesitated, I gestured to Dain. “And Dain is elfkin. He’s on your side.”
She and Helios exchanged a look. Then she met my stare. “Fine. I’ll stay the night. And if either of you try anything, Helios will burn you to ash.”
I bowed. “Fortunately, that won’t be necessary.” I straightened. “Before we find a place to camp, may we know your name?”
She gave Helios another look. “Bel,” she said finally.
